International Standards for the Classification of Spinal Cord Injury

Key Sensory Points

C2 At least one cm lateral to the occipital protuberance

at the base of the skull. Alternately, it can be located
at least 3 cm behind the ear.

C3 In the supraclavicular fossa, at the midclavicular line.

C4 Over the acromioclavicular joint.

C2

C3 C4

C5 On the lateral (radial) side of the antecubital fossa just proximal to the
elbow (see image below).
C6 On the dorsal surface of the proximal phalanx of the thumb.
C7 On the dorsal surface of the proximal phalanx of the middle finger.

C8 On the dorsal surface of the proximal phalanx of the little finger.

C8
C7

C6

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International Standards for the Classification of Spinal Cord Injury
Key Sensory Points

C5

T2
T1

T1 On the medial (ulnar) side of the antecubital fossa, just proximal to the medial epicondyle of the humerus.

T2 At the apex of the axilla.

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International Standards for the Classification of Spinal Cord Injury
Key Sensory Points

T3 At the midclavicular line and the third

intercostal space, found by palpating
the anterior chest to locate the third C3
rib and the corresponding third
intercostal space below it.
T4 At the midclavicular line and the
fourth intercostal space, located at the
level of the nipples.
T5 At the midclavicular line and the fifth
intercostal space, located midway
between the level of the nipples and T3
the level of the xiphisternum.
T4
T6 At the midclavicular line, located at
the level of the xiphisternum.
T5
T7 At the midclavicular line, one quarter
the distance between the level of
T6
the xiphisternum and the level of
the umbilicus. T7
T8 At the midclavicular line, one half the
distance between the level of the T8
xiphisternum and the level of the
umbilicus.
T9
T9 At the midclavicular line, three
quarters of the distance between the
level of the xiphisternum and the level T10
of the umbilicus.
T10 At the midclavicular line, located at
T11
the level of the umbilicus.
T11 At the midclavicular line, midway
between the level of the umbilicus T12
and the inguinal ligament.
T12 At the midclavicular line, over the
midpoint of the inguinal ligament.

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International Standards for the Classification of Spinal Cord Injury
Key Sensory Points

L1 Midway between the key sensory points for T12

and L2.
T12
L2 On the anterior-medial thigh, at the midpoint drawn
on an imaginary line connecting the midpoint of the
inguinal ligament and the medial femoral condyle.
L3 At the medial femoral condyle above the knee.
L1

L2

L3

L4 Over the medial malleolus.

L5 On the dorsum of the foot at the third metatarsal phalangeal joint.

L4

L5

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International Standards for the Classification of Spinal Cord Injury
Key Sensory Points

S1 On the lateral aspect of the calcaneus.

S2 At the midpoint of the popliteal fossa.

S2

S1

S3 Over the ischial tuberosity or infragluteal

fold (depending on the patient their skin
can move up, down or laterally over
the ischii).

S4/5 In the perianal area, less than one cm.

lateral to the mucocutaneous junction.

S3 S4/5

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International Standards for the Classification of Spinal Cord Injury
Key Sensory Points

June 2008